Thread: Veritas Spokeshave prices

I think its a case of the hated "Aussie Tax" which seems to get put on everything.

Just buy them from Lee Valley they are great to work with and you will be able to to bring the item/s in for less that what you can buy them at Carba-Tec.

I bought a Veritas Low Angle Jack Plane in 2009 (the dollar was about 0.80$AU) with all the optional blades, a plane sock and paid the postage and it cost me about the same as what Carba-Tec was asking for just the plane.

Its really disappointing.

Tommo,
Just checked the current prices as this was next on my wish list (not likely , I've not been that good):
Veritas® Low-Angle Jack Plane, A2

$219.00

Extra blades approx.: $35


The cost of shipping the Veritas® Low Angle Jack Plane (05P3401) to Australia would be as follows:

Shipping Method Cost Shipping Time
International Surface delivery $61.54 USD 8 to 12 weeks
XpressPost International $118.67 USD 5 to 10 business days
UPS Express $111.20 USD 5 to 6 business days

If you were to add 2 extra blades for the plane, the shipping would be as follows:

Shipping Method Cost Shipping Time
International Surface delivery $69.09 USD 8 to 12 weeks
XpressPost International $127.56 USD 5 to 10 business days
UPS Express $116.73 USD 5 to 6 business days

So U$280/U$330 (A$258 / A$ 304) for the plane by itself
or US350 or U$400 (A$322/A$368) for extra couple of blades
Carbatec price is A$ 319 plus delivery
So, if you are willing to wait ,you get two extra blades for A$3 ! if my legendary bad maths is accurate.

C

Hi,

Have a look on the Lee Valley web site, they offer all three as a set for only $US255, that makes each one $85. The strong Aussie dollar means you will probably get the set of three delivered for approx $AUS280, still heaps cheaper than the Australian supplier.

Regards,
Chris

haggismuncher - I hope you have tried the Veritas spokeshaves somewhere before buying, as the shape of the body is a bit of an acquired taste. The casting doesn't allow your thumbs to rest particularly low to the sole of the shave, making it tricky to control IMHO.

I'm looking to get rid of a virtually new Veritas curved spokeshave if you're interested - I just don't get on with it. I've since tried both the LN (Boggs) and Terry Gordons spokeshaves, and I can get better results from both than from the Veritas.

Your mileage may vary.....

Originally Posted by Mr Brush

haggismuncher - I hope you have tried the Veritas spokeshaves somewhere before buying, as the shape of the body is a bit of an acquired taste. The casting doesn't allow your thumbs to rest particularly low to the sole of the shave, making it tricky to control IMHO.

I'm looking to get rid of a virtually new Veritas curved spokeshave if you're interested - I just don't get on with it. I've since tried both the LN (Boggs) and Terry Gordons spokeshaves, and I can get better results from both than from the Veritas.

Your mileage may vary.....

I agree with Mr Brush's observations on the Veritas spokeshave.
One solution available to you is to shape the existing handle to your taste (they are made of wood) or replace them with your own wooden handle.
The problem with doing this is the wooden handle starts about 25mm from the end of the blade so if you want thumb rests nice and close to the blade you will not be able to achieve this. Where you prefer the thumb rests depends a lot on what you are shaping and your spokeshaving style.
Also, why modify a brand new $85 tool if you can get what you want for a similar price.
I have been happy with my Veritas spokeshaves but they are the first I have used for 25 years so I taught myself how to make these work for me.

Regards,
Chris

Chris - glad I'm not the only one......

I did actually buy the Veritas replacement handle hardware with a view to making up a set of my own handles, but as you say this doesn't really address the main problem in the shape of the body casting.

As an aside, I recently had the chance to try out the alternative Veritas low-angle spokeshave:

Veritas® Low-Angle Spokeshave - Lee Valley Tools

Although MUCH more difficult to set up correctly, once set I found it actually worked much better for me than the Veritas spokeshave I own, mainly because the shape of the body allows for correct thumb positioning just off the surface of the timber.

Just pointing out that spokeshaves are a VERY individual thing, and I wouldn't suggest buying anything that you haven't actually used. Most of my other tools (planes etc.) are Veritas, so I usually like their stuff, but the spokeshave was a mistake.

I have the V flat and convex 'shaves FS, both new, and a handle kit, so if you're interested make me an offer.

Bought these in a spate of enthusiasm for this kind of work but have since found it pays better to do casual hours in the field I qualified in.

Mr B is quite right; there are some tools you make friends with and some you don't.

Lots of folk have got good mileage out of these spokeshaves however.

I have the low angle and the set of all three LV small spokeshaves. My favourite is definitely the LA while I find the the convex is the most difficult to use.

I have thought of adding small brass collar with thumb pads to make the easier to hold.

I declare a can of worms officially opened (plink).......

And there was me thinking it was just my lack of opposable thumbs that made the Veritas spokeshave awkward to use....

LOL,

... more worms to come.

It's been posted here before; the big q is what you want to use them for, or what applications you have tried with what results.

We have feedback on results (well, the feel) but not on the applications.

Originally Posted by haggismuncher

Birthday coming up sos I thought I'd check the price of a good spokeshave.....

I'm stumped.

Carbatec is selling the Veritas Spokeshaves for:

• Flat $149
• Round $109
• Concave $119

Whereas LeeValley charges approx U$95 for each

Why the 50% price difference for essentially the same shave?

Can't be shipping they all weight the same.

C

to answer the original question, the difference is most probably related to the exchange rate when Carbatech last ordered stock of each style of shave.

On 1 May the excahange rate was 1 AUD = 1.09 USD
on 1 Feb 2011 it was 1 AUD = 1.00 USD
on 1 Sep 2010 it was 1 AUD = 0.90 USD
on 1 July 2010 it was 1 AUD = 0.84 USD
that's a 30% variation in the exchange rate over the past 10 months

Carbatech's price differential is 37%

Originally Posted by Mr Brush

I declare a can of worms officially opened (plink).......

And there was me thinking it was just my lack of opposable thumbs that made the Veritas spokeshave awkward to use....

my finding is that the Veritas shaves are not so much ackward in use as different.
I've got the flat and curved Veritas plus the small flat bronze one from LN
For some tasks, I find the Veritas shaves are just too hard to control, for others they excell. Without going all scientific, I think it has something to do with the width of the work piece. The LN is easier to use on narrow stock

Yes, there has been mention of the 'feel' of the Veritas shaves here a few times. You have a famous precedent - UK Alf didn't think much of them, either:

Veritas Hardware Kit for Spokeshave Handles Review : Hand Tools - UKworkshop.co.uk

As a long-time user of the Stanley/Record style shaves (40 plus yrs), I found the Veritas shaves to be very odd little beasts, at first, too. I didn't like those round handles at all, because they don't give you an automatic feel for where the cutty bit is, the way the flattish handles of the old style shaves do. I bought some spare handle adapter bolts (which only cost a few $$s at the time) intending to make some new oval handles for mine, but haven't gotten the necessary round tuit, yet.

They don't have thumb indentations, it's true, but you CAN put your thumbs on the body quite easily, to steady it. At least I can, but I have relatively small hands, and therein may lie some of the difference. These are small, fine tools, and I would imaginge they feel downright dinky to anyone with largish fists.

But after presevering with the Veritas pair, I soon adapted to them, and now much prefer them for fine work, though I still use the old pair for the rough stuff, because you can hog off bigger chunks with those great gaping mouths. I have quite a different attitude to using the Veritas shaves, holding them almost delicately, letting the soles sit on the work and follow the surface, rather than 'drive' them from the handles. They ride nicely, and cut so well I don't notice the handles are round (hard to explain, but easy to demonstrate). I use these shaves a lot, but not constantly, so that also has to be taken into account.

So to sum up, it's horses for courses, as always. I would recommend the Veritas shaves to anyone who has medium to small hands, and wants to use them for fine finishing type work. They take a little getting used to, but will reward you with excellent results once you adapt your style a bit. If you have big fists, want to do some heavy-duty shaping, and aren't particularly worried about the surface finish, then find an old 150/151 pair & you'll probably be a happier chap (particularly if you replace the old blades with a couple of the thicker blades Veritas make for them, for a very reasonable cost). Can't say anything about the other brands from personal experience, but people whose opinions are worth listening to have said very good things about the HNT shaves. They may be a much better proposition all round for the big-handed crew.....

Cheers,

Another point to make is that Veritas do make a large-handled shave.